He hesitated about asking his next question then decided what the hell. He wanted to get to know her again, to understand what drove her and why. “That explains why they aren’t here to help now, but what about financial help for your sister’s attorney or for this house? Didn’t they write some huge self-help book?”
She pursed her lips. “They co-wrote a parenting book, and between sales, television appearances and new editions every few years, they earned themselves a huge amount of money. They promptly took their earnings, kept a modest sum to live on and donated the proceeds to charity, something they continue to do yearly. There’s nothing left to help me. And frankly even if there was, I don’t think they’d find my issues outweighed those of the poor.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t have thought giving to charity could be a bad thing.” And at the expense of their children, he thought, disgusted.
Lauren shook her head and laughed, a low, dry, humorless sound. “Tell me about it. They believe their money is going for a good cause, whereas my income, earned through a materialistic lifestyle, is expendable. Hence Beth and this house have become my responsibility.” She swept her arm through the air.
He was speechless. She’d stepped up to take care of responsibilities that should rightly belong to her parents. He admired the adult she’d become in light of the obstacles she faced.
“I have enough to cover these repairs, even with the water heater, but it’ll be tight,” she said at last.
“I understand. And I promise to do this as quickly and efficiently as possible.” He’d fix as much as he could himself to save her outside costs, and he’d do it without letting her know. He had plenty of time to spare.
“Thank you for that. And for not judging.” Her smile lit up the room as well as his heart.
It was the first time they’d had a genuine conversation and a swell of emotion filled his chest. He met her gaze and wanted to kiss her. To reassure her that she could rely on him in a way she so obviously couldn’t on anyone else in her life.
He leaned in closer.
She didn’t back away.
And the doorbell rang, breaking the connection between them.
She pulled back, eyeing him warily before heading to answer. Leaving him to dissect the complicated, protective feelings she aroused.
“Where’s my nephew?” a familiar voice bellowed.
Uh-oh.
Uncle Edward was here. Jason didn’t know how he’d found him or why he’d shown up now, but it couldn’t be good news and he didn’t want Lauren greeting the older man alone.
Jason ran to catch up and the three of them converged in the marble entryway.
One look at his uncle and Jason knew something had set him off.
“Hi, Uncle Edward. How’d you get inside?” Jason asked.
“The door was already open, so I let myself in. If she didn’t want visitors, she should’ve locked her door. I always lock mine.”
Jason swallowed hard. The rambling was a sign of his agitation. “Well, I’m surprised to see you here. I’d like you to meet Lauren,” he said, deliberately omitting her last name.
Edward looked her up and down. “She’s a Perkins, isn’t that right?” he asked, running a hand through his hair and making it a mess.
“Well yes, and this is her house you barged into,” Jason reminded his uncle, hoping he’d take the hint and be polite.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Corwin,” Lauren said, extending her hand.
Edward jumped back as if she were poised to attack. “How could you take a job working for a Perkins?” he asked his nephew.
Jason stiffened, mortified on Lauren’s behalf as well as his own. “How did you find out?”
“I was at JR’s Plumbing Supply House when you called, that’s how! You can’t work here. Not without invoking curses and trouble. Curses. They’re the cause of all the problems we’ve had and it’s her family’s fault.” Edward began to gesture at Lauren, clearly upset.
Jason shot Lauren an apologetic glance. “Let me get him home and settled and I’ll be right back, okay?”
She nodded, her eyes wide, a combination of sadness and regret in them.
“Uncle Edward, let me take you home to Clara.” Jason wrapped his arm around the older man.
Edward shook his head. “Clara’s gonna put one of her spells on me, too.”
Jason let out a groan and directed his uncle toward his car. Edward had walked here, as he did to most places in town. But right now, Jason needed to get him home as soon as possible.
He dreaded Clara seeing Edward in this state. His uncle had only recently begun to soften toward Clara, but now it seemed he’d reverted to his old fears and behavior.
All because a Perkins and a Corwin were working together. Imagine what would happen if Edward knew they were sleeping together?
♥ Uploaded by Coral ♥
CHAPTER SIX
LAUREN FOLLOWED Jason and Edward Corwin out to Jason’s car with Edward mumbling the entire way. It didn’t help that the cat was settled on Jason’s hood like a king.
“It’s another sign, I tell you,” Edward muttered, pointing to the black ornament.
“Is it yours?” Jason asked Lauren.
“In a manner of speaking. He came with the house.”
Jason glanced over his shoulder at her. “Can you get him off?”
Lauren shrugged. She wondered if a cat would come when called. Of course, it didn’t matter since she didn’t know his name.
“Come on, Cat!”
The feline didn’t budge.
What she didn’t know about cats could fill volumes. She’d already given the cat diarrhea. What next? “I’m sure he’ll jump off when you start the car.”
“Don’t want that thing near me any more than I want a dang Perkins near me,” Edward said. “Should have brought Stinky Pete with me, I tell you.”
“Who’s Stinky Pete?” she asked Jason, all the while reminding herself not to take a demented man’s ravings seriously.
“The pet skunk he uses to keep people away,” Jason said, shooting her a look that clearly said, Don’t ask.
After settling his uncle in the passenger seat, Jason turned back and walked over to Lauren and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry,” he said, tilting his head toward the car.
She shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Go take care of him. He obviously needs you.”
And she needed to forget the sight of Jason leading his uncle to the car, taking charge and caring for the older man. She’d come too close to kissing him moments earlier. Noticing his warm, caring nature wouldn’t allow her to keep a safe emotional distance.
Luckily, as soon as Jason started the engine, the cat raised its head-haughtily, in Lauren’s opinion-and jumped off the hood, clearly annoyed.
Lauren tried not to laugh. She’d never realized a feline could have such an uppity disposition.
The car backed out of the driveway, slowing down as Jason opened the window. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised.
She nodded.
“Are you sure you can handle the plumber?”
“Of course.” She waved him on his way.
She hadn’t even walked up the porch steps when an old, battered pickup pulled into the driveway.
A young guy stepped out of the truck. As he approached, Lauren had the distinct feeling she’d seen him somewhere before but found herself unable to place his face. He was tall and lean, wearing dark jeans and a solid gray T-shirt. He wasn’t half bad looking, although she was already spoken for. Lauren stopped short in her tracks, unsure of where that thought had come from.
“Is this the Perkins house?” the man asked as he strode up the walkway.
She nodded. “Can I help you?” She assumed he was the plumber but couldn’t be certain.
“I’m looking for Jason Corwin?”
“He was called away but he’ll be back soon. Can I help you?”
He nodded and extended his hand. “Brody Pittman. JR Plumbing sent me over.”